Universal UB300 Adjustable Bench (Discontinued)

A weight bench is a simple enough thing but the exact details of making a good one are very important. Universal / Nautilus studied each one and really got it right with this one. I looked at many benches around this price point and felt like they all fell short somehow and I looked at more expensive benches thinking you get what you pay for and a more expensive bench must be better, but Universal really knocked this one out of the park and got it right. If you use dumbbells and maybe situps (no barbell*) this bench has everything you need and nothing you don't (which would mean excess size and weight!). Speaking of which, if you don't want the leg supports the bench is designed and painted such that you can leave that off and it looks equally sharp. *see edit/update at the bottom Pros: Solid- when the box for this bench showed up I was surprised at how light the box was. It actually had me worried as I've tried out benches that felt like they had give and of course when you've got weights up and you need to focus on perfect form the last thing you want is the chance of feeling a slip or flex underneath you. All fears were gone after setting it up though. This thing is SOLID. The design is clever - the supports extend from your CG at an angle to the floor supports and rest directly on the foot piece rather than being bolted to the side. This is akin to holding a weight overhead instead of out from your body - it will just transmit the weight with nothing to flex. Benches where the supports are bolted to the side have to sink in as the shear force is absorbed and the repeated loading will loosen the nuts. Also the current design I received (not exactly pictured) has both supports meeting at and welded to an elbow at the same point where the seat meets the back rest so there are no holes for pins or bolts that may allow slop or loosening over time. This sucker distributes weight like a roofing truss and is NOT flexing. Bottom line is that this bench is very well designed to be solid without needing a bunch of big heavy bolts that you have to worry about loosening over time. There are just a couple light bolts so it doesn't slide apart when not under load. I think using good engineering design principles and reducing the need for the amount of steel required not only kept the weight down but probably the cost too. Mobile- somewhat related, the next nice surprise was the easy mobility. I considered a nice solid Marcy and I liked that it felt like a tank when I sat on it but I didn't like you had to wrestle it like one to move it. Them's the breaks, right? Turns out it's not though- because of this bench being structurally intelligent instead of just being over-engineered it is not terribly heavy even though it's solid. This means that those of us who are trying to squeeze a few home gym items into a relatively small room will be able to quickly and easily get this bench stored against the wall. That goes for family members too, so if someone wants this out of the way so they can say hop on an exercise bike or lay out a yoga mat they won't have to struggle to move it because it only weighs about 20 pounds. Comfort- The bench padding is comfortable without being too cushy. Some benches are so hard it is distracting. Some are so cushy that you feel like you're laying back on a couch. This one has a considerable amount of padding but also perforations to breathe so your shoulder blades don't stick against it like cheap car upholstery on a sunny day. This is not to say you'll want to hang out and watch TV from this bench, this is to say that your focus can stay on your form where it belongs. Length- I'm 5'10" and scooted all the way back to the rest with the bench at the 45 incline the back of my skull rests at the top of the backrest. This is perfect for me. Again that is scooted all the way back, if you are slightly taller and like to have support for the back of your head you will *probably* still be okay. If you are a lot taller you may not share my opinion that this bench's length is just right, but I think for most of the population it will provide head support without being oversized. Decline- This bench DOES have decline but I can understand why some of the reviewers have missed it. If you look at the bracket stops there are actually *4* brackets, one for 45 degrees, then 30, 15, and flat. But this is a 5 position bench? The trick is that the top of the bracket stop has a channel so the bottom of the support arm that attached to the back rest extends beyond the bottom stop bracket and rests in that channel to prevent lateral movement. There are two shock / wear plates on the support arm where it rests in that support bracket channel and the other contacts the back rest for support and to transmit load solidly. Again, a very clever design. If that description doesn't make sense then just hold the support arm against the back rest while lowering the back rest fully to decline and boom you are there. It will make sense once you see it, but again I don't blame anybody for not seeing this (I didn't at first either!) but the flat position really is flat (even though flat could possibly be convinced as "barely decline" if you were looking for it) and the decline position is a full -10 degrees. The only problem is Nautilus does a terrible job of telling the user how to get there. This leads me to my only real CON of this bench: Documentation. People are using this as a 4 position bench instead of 5 because you are left on your own to figure out that the decline setting is not supported like the other 4 settings. Also there are no assembly instructions, just an exploded parts diagram. It still went together fairly easily, it's a simple enough design, but there are a couple details that I think at least merit a special note, e.g. when you put the back rest's support arm on you need to be aware that the wear plate near the top goes "up" and the wear plate near the bottom of the support goes "down" so that they contact the other bench parts when put in the decline setting. I initially put mine in upside down and it wasn't until I figured out how it was supposed to go into decline that I even noticed those extra plates I've been calling wear plates on the support arm and realized I had it upside down (since it doesn't matter for the other 4 positions). I consider this very minor in the big picture, especially because the bench itself is everything you could want in a dumbbell / sit-up bench and absolutely worth 5 stars, especially at Amazon's price, but it seems silly they didn't toss in a couple notes about assembly and usage that would have been very helpful if the other reviews here are any indication. Please note the current model's design is slightly different than the picture, the back channel with the stop brackets now goes straight down to the rear "foot" rather than having the curve near the bottom in back as pictured - just something to be aware of if you are looking at the pic trying to better picture what I've done my best to describe above. Last but not least, Amazon's item description gives a max user weight of 300 lbs. My bench has a sticker on it that shows a user + weight limit of 430 pounds. I've not sat on it with a combined weight of more than the mid 200's or so but I believe even that limit of 430 is probably conservative. [...] *Feb 2014 Update: After 2-1/2 years, I still love this bench. Last August I picked up a squat rack off craigslist and have been using this bench in conjunction with that for barbell training. Pulling the bench in & out of the rack when it's time to bench makes me appreciate the efficient design's light weight. The rack's j-hooks and safety pins make this bench better for me to work out by myself with than a bench with a built-in stand, plus it saves space since the bench can stay in the rack between workouts rather than needing room for a separate benching station. I'm still a lightweight and haven't had a total of more than about 350 pounds on this bench but it always feels rock solid.

This is a really nice bench. I found it easy to put together (after reviewing everything thoroughly), although I know something in the instructions gave other reviewers a harder time. Something about a part not being pictured, I think. I loved how it *came* with all the tools to put it together, and how they worked. That's just awesome: Allen wrenches, screw driver, whatever those other things are called for bolts, and all. I don't believe I've ever seen that done before. I give the company major props for that. I was a little disappointed that the bench won't go to a vertical position, but I've decided the military press makes my shoulders pop, anyway, so I'm probably better off with incline bench instead. I was also hoping for a steeper decline, but this works for my purposes. I think a full decline where the full bench declines instead of just two thirds of it would be better, anyway, and I can get a great stomach workout on a flat bench with weights as is. I like how it supports a lot of weight for how light it is. I like how easy it is to adjust, and fast. I don't have to unscrew anything! I like how it's surprisingly comfortable to sit on. It did have a strong smell for a few weeks, but that seems to have passed. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant smell, but it was powerful. I was wondering if it would pass for a while--but it did. It is easy to move from one room to another. Just don't lift by the adjustable part of the bench that moves up and down. Other reviewers talked about sliding out of the bench in incline position. Put your shins behind the black thing and you'll be just fine. Speaking of that black thing (used for situps), the things on the ends of it pop out sometimes. So, be sure to make sure they're tight. It's not hard to shove them back in again, though. The bench is sturdy and doesn't wobble on my thin tile floor, nor on the carpet I was using. I'm 5'11" and it works fine. It'd be nice if it were longer, for bench presses, but it works well, practically speaking. I'm content. I weigh almost 200lbs and use two 40lb dumbbells with it. It supports us just fine, and I'm sure a whole lot more.

Needed a solid weight bench to start Beachbody's Body Beast program, and I'm glad I found this one! At the time this bench was $107 and had solid reviews which is why I decided to order it. Some of the unhappy reviewers complained about the assembly being difficult, or not having the best instructions. But I found it pretty simple to put together, and didn't really read the instruction because you can basically see how each part fits onto the bench. I've been using this bench for about a month now and its met my expectations, and has also stood up to a lot of use during the start of my Body Beast program. The base is solid, and does not wobble or feel at all unsafe during use, which is an important part when you are using heavy weights and need it to be as stable as possible. It's also got 5 different positions(inc decline) and it still feels safe and not cheaply made at all. If I had one gripe it would be the fact that the bench does not have an upright position setting, the highest it will go is still at a slight angle so for some of the moves in Body Beast you have to just sit up straight rather than rest your back against the back of the bench. But this is only a minor complaint, and does not really hinder the workouts in anyway. If you don't want to spend over $200 for a bench, then this is probably what you are looking for.

I love this bench! I had already owned this exact one when my son asked me if he could work out. I was ready to upgrade my weight anyway, so I gave him my dumbbells and this bench. I bought new bells and this was out of stock at Amazon, so being impatient, I went to a retail store and bought a cheap golds gym bench. I HATED it. It was flimsy, and did not truly go flat for bench press because the part where your butt sits is always angled up, by design. I saw this was in stock again and immediately ordered it. I just put it together right before I wrote this. The quality is excellent. Heavy steel; great paint quality; the seat and bench covering even feels better than the cheaper bench. It even comes with a decent set of tools to put it together with, so I didn't have to get mine out! And the few nuts and bolts and tools needed are all packaged nicely for easy access. THINK ABOUT THIS: The key to working out, isn't about having tons of equipment; it's about STICKING to it. This bench helps in that regard because it is a fast adjustment between incline, flat and decline. It is a pleasure to use and it feels SOLID while you are on it. If you get a good set of adjustable dumbbells, such as the bowflex or power blocks, and this bench, you have enough equipment in a small area to get pretty damn ripped! Don't hesitate to skip the 50 dollar bench and get this one. You definitely get what you pay for by spending a little more for this one, and it is worth the price I paid for it. I added the photo to show what can be done with just a bench and dumbbells. I have lost minimal weight, 17 pounds, but have converted fat to muscle so I have a leaner look. If I can do it, anyone can.

Excellent bench. This has 4 positions for the brace to be put (three inclines and a flat position) and I assume the 'fifth' position is a decline where you don't put the brace in a slot. However, I haven't tried the decline yet. The leg brace works well and feels very sturdy. However, the plastic end caps that hold in the cushions don't stay in. The bar holding the leg pads isn't long enough and so the cushions bulge out and don't let the caps fully insert into the bar. This hasn't been a huge deal for me as they do stay in fairly well, but I'd estimate that after about 4 or 5 uses, the pads get loose and the caps either fall off or are close to it. Again, not a big problem, you just push them back in, I usually do it with my feet while I'm sitting on the bench. Overall, this is an excellent quality bench for the money. Yes the leg pads get loose as the caps don't stay in super well. Also, if you try to drag this bench around the room, the feet caps can come off as they're not designed to slide/roll, however, that's just me using it as it's not intended to be used. I still highly recommend this bench.

I received the box and upon opening thought, wow, this is well packaged. The bolts were all shrink wrapped and my favorite part all the tools needed were included. There is a need for two hex wrenches and they include both. The assembly was so obvious and easy, I did in 10 minutes (after two beers :-) without reading anything. The construction is solid. The bench is beautiful, not at all the basic black. As for the bench's utility I would say it is good, not great. It is missing the straight up back position that I like for shoulder workouts. Also on a concrete floor it wobbles just slightly. I am sure on a padded floor that will not be an issue. For $100 I would say this bench is good not great, but a value for the price.

This bench is everything that J. S. Carr says it is, solid, well-built and yet light weight. I took me an hour to put it together by myself and would have taken less time if I had inspected the pieces more closely and hadn't kept forgetting the washers. The pieces that sit on the floor have two distinct sides: one side has dished holes to accept the carriage bolts and allow them to protrude far enough on the other side to get the bent washers and the domed nuts on. If you get this backwards like I did at first, you will be frustrated and wonder "what gives?" Pay attention to J. S. Carr's video and get the adjustable vertical piece inserted correctly so that you don't scratch the paint when putting the unit into decline. If you are new to weight training or have an open mind about learning a more effective way to do it, by all means get a copy of Adam Zickler's book, Power of 10: The Once-A-Week Slow Motion Fitness Revolution (Harperresource Book) It really is true that by following his methods, you can get a better workout by moving slowly with enough weight to get muscle failure within 4 to 8 reps per muscle group once per week. The focus is on rapid muscle failure followed by adequate rest during which the muscle repairs itself and creates additional muscle fibers. Update on 8/22/2012. After two and a half months using Adam Zickler's methods, I am seeing a serious increase in definition of my pecs, lats, delts, calves and quads and an incredible increase in my overall cardio-fitness without doing any running or other aerobic exercise. Just 20 minutes per week, believe it or not. Skeptical? Type his name into YouTube to see the 48 hours video. This bench is the only way I could implement his home exercises that involve free weights, a workout ball and a bench. No other equipment!

Pros: Assembly: Assembly was very easy. All the parts were accounted for. It was just a few bolts for the most part. Took me about 20 minutes to assemble. Mine came with directions (some reviewers said theirs did not). Quality: I was pleasantly surprised how sturdy this bench is considering how light weight it is. It claims to support up to 430 lbs (user + weights) and I have no doubt it could handle that. Materials: The cushion material is nice. It is firm enough to give you a nice support but not hard as a rock. I don't think benches with too much cushion and this one is just right. Price: The price for this product is amazing. You will not find another FID bench for $100 of this quality. You would need to spend $200-300 to get a bench that is significantly better than this. For $100 this is a steal. Features: There is a nice number of incline angles, all the ones you'd want to incline pressing (15, 30, and 45). There is only one decline angle, -10, but I don't decline bench so for me the decline is only used for sit ups occasionally. The angles are VERY easy to change. Nothing to unscrew and screw in like some FID benches. Size: I am 6 feet tall and I fit on the bench perfectly. If you are much taller than that you may have problems but then again most benches in this price range are not much longer than this one is. Cons: There is not 90 degree setting. This wasn't a big deal for me because you don't really need that setting. I can do seated overhead presses without the backrest. The leg attachment is place awkwardly for me. Maybe it's just my body though. Also I noticed some reviewers said the bench they got is slightly different than the one pictured. They must have updated the picture since those reviews because the bench I got is exactly the same as the one pictured.